PANJIM: With another deadline given by Goa government on resumption of mining activity ending on Wednesday, Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) has now decided to take their agitation to the streets.
A meeting has been scheduled on December 27 at Usgao to decide on ‘Goa bandh’, to be observed mostly during first week of January.
After the recently held Cabinet meeting, Power Minister and BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral had assured that the government would move positively within two-three days.
Cabral had also told the members of GMPF that a delegation of government would visit Delhi on December 26 to take up the issue with the Centre. The minister had not mentioned exactly with whom the issue would be taken up.
BJP sources said that the MLAs were supposed to raise the issue with BJP National President Amit Shah and also with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“But both of them are yet to give their appointments due to which the Delhi visit has been postponed,” sources said.
When contacted, PWD Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said that they have not got the appointment of Prime Minister and hence would want Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to do so. “Will request the Chief Minister to get Prime Minister’s appointment,” he said.
On the other hand, aggrieved GMPF President Puti Gaonkar said that they would be meeting at Usgao on Thursday at 3.30 pm to chalk out further course of action.
“When we protested in Delhi, we had specifically told that we would be resorting to Goa Bandh, if our demand is not fulfilled. We have waited for long. Now it is a time for action,” he said.
Gaonkar said that the Bandh would be observed in the first week of January as PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar during his recent meeting had assured the solution for this issue by January 6.
“Our patience is running out. We can’t wait more; and now we will not entertain any more deadlines,” he said.
The mining industry in Goa has come to standstill since March this year after 88 iron ore leases were quashed by the Supreme Court. State has been pressing for amendment to Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act 1957 to extend life of leases by 2037.
